SKIN CHANGES DURING CHEMOTHERAPY: Color changes, redness, itching peeling dryness, rashes, and acne.
NURSING INTERVENTIONS: - Assess client’s skin for redness, dryness, rashes and itching. - Teach client how to take care skin problems during treatment. If client has dry, itchy skin suggest: Take warm, short showers instead long, hot baths; Use moisturizing soap, pat dry and apply cream or lotion while skin is still damp; Try a colloidal oatmeal bath for itching all over the body or cornstarch; Avoid using perfume, cologne or aftershave lotion, because these products contain alcohol and make skin dry; Some chemo drugs make skin sensitive to sun. Suggest client to wear sunscreen, avoid sun exposure between 10 am and 4 pm, cover your skin as much as you can while you are outside, and do not use tanning bed.
NAIL CHANGES DURING CHMEOTHERAPY: Nails may become weak, break or lift off and develop ridges
NURSING INTERVENTIONS: - Have pt keep hands moisturized and the nails cut short, avoid cutting cuticles - Make sure patient avoids artificial nails - Educate on using oil based products to prevent drying of nails. - Tell pt to use gloves when doing housework or gardening - Have patient soak nails in oliveor vegatable oil - Educate pt to keep nails that break off clean and protected -Tell patient to check skin and nails daily for any changes
Color changes, redness, itching peeling dryness, rashes, and acne.
NURSING INTERVENTIONS:
- Assess client’s skin for redness, dryness, rashes and itching.
- Teach client how to take care skin problems during treatment. If client has dry, itchy skin suggest: Take warm, short showers instead long, hot baths;
Use moisturizing soap, pat dry and apply cream or lotion while skin is still damp;
Try a colloidal oatmeal bath for itching all over the body or cornstarch;
Avoid using perfume, cologne or aftershave lotion, because these products contain alcohol and make skin dry; Some chemo drugs make skin sensitive to sun. Suggest client to wear sunscreen, avoid sun exposure between 10 am and 4 pm, cover your skin as much as you can while you are outside, and do not use tanning bed.
NAIL CHANGES DURING CHMEOTHERAPY:
Nails may become weak, break or lift off and develop ridges
NURSING INTERVENTIONS:
- Have pt keep hands moisturized and the nails cut short, avoid cutting cuticles
- Make sure patient avoids artificial nails
- Educate on using oil based products to prevent drying of nails.
- Tell pt to use gloves when doing housework or gardening
- Have patient soak nails in oliveor vegatable oil
- Educate pt to keep nails that break off clean and protected
-Tell patient to check skin and nails daily for any changes
References:
www.cancer.org www.cancersupportcommunity.org
http://www.cancercenter.com/after-care-services/skin-&-nails.cfm